Electric etching or deposition frame



Feb. 13, 1940. w. BEEBE 2,190,440

I ELECTRIC ETCHING OR DEPOSITION FRAME Filed June l2, 1957 3 H 3 INVENTOR. lll/@fron ,Bee e Eng. E. Y BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 13, 1940` UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Watson Beebe, Cheboygan, Mich., assignor, by mesue assignments, to The Trumbull Metal Products Company, a corporation of Dela- Application June 12, 1937, Serial No. 147,968

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a frame for supporting metal plates for plating and etching.

It is an object of my invention to provide a frame for conveniently receiving and supporting 5 metal plates in conductive connection in an electrolytic bath, in which the frame may be conveniently suspended or removed for quickly unloading and reloading.

It is also another object of invention to pro- Vide such an electric deposition and etching frame comprising a substantially rectangular frame of electrically conductive material having inturned clamps disposed around the sides for clamping the corners of square or rectangular matrix plates to support the plates, and to provide substantially uniform current conduction therein.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a frame having pairs of clamp jaws of which one jaw of .each pair is of electrically conductive material extending rigidly from the frame, and the otheris a movable jaw of nonconductive material which is movably supported on the rigid jaw by resilient rubber bands which also compress the jaws together.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of my invention such as relate to the arrangement and function oi the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and combinations of parts, elements per se,

80 economies of manufacture and numerous other features which will be apparent from a considerationv of the specification in conjunction with the drawing disclosing a specic form of my invention, in which:

36 Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my electric deposition and etching frame supported from an electrical conductive bus bar;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on lines 2-2 and 3 3 thereof and 40 Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the removable jaw of one ofthe plate supporting clamps.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, my

electrical deposition and etching frame comprises a support member 3 which is of electrically ccnductive material. As shown, the electrically conductive support 3 is preferably of any suitable metal of a circular cross section to provide a frame which is rigid and light. The frame may be composed of a plurality of rod like members 3 comprising straight and corner pieces joined together in suitable coupling sleeves 5 in any suitable manner, as by sweat soldering or threading.

For supporting square or rectangular sheets or plates 1, the frame is of rectangular conformation of a. proper size for accommodating a suitable number of the plates 1 to be immersed in edge-to-edge relation in the electrolytic bath (not shown), and it is for this purpose provided with a number of holders or clamps 9. The clamps 9 project inwardly from the frame and they are 5 spaced around the sides at suitable positions for clamping the corners of the plates 1 to be supported therein.

Each of the clamps 9 comprises a stationary law Il of electrically conductive material extend- 10 ing inwardly from the frame to which it is secured at one end as by welding or soldering, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. At its inwardly projected end the stationary jaw Il carries a laterally projecting contact I3 for providing elec 15 trically conductive connection with the plate 1 supported therein. The clamp also comprises a movable jaw I5 which is made of a non-conductive non-corrosive material, preferably hard rubber, although various other 'materials such as 20 wood or porcelain could be utilized. An intermediate bearing I6 is provided in the jaw l5 for seating on the round frame.

Elastic means I1 is provided for clamping the movable jaw I 5 toward the stationary jaw Il. 25 For this purpose elastic rubber bands are disposed around the jaws for supporting the movable jaw and for compressing the jaws together.

A pair of supports I9 of strap metal are secured around the upper side of the frame and 30 extend therefrom to provide hooks 2li for suspending the frame in an electrolytic bath from a bar 2|. The hooks 20 also make electrical contact for transmitting the electrical plating or etching current between the frame and the 35 bar 2|.

For preventing the passage of the electric current directly between the frame and the electrolytic bath, a layer or nlm 23 of any suitable insulating material is provided thereon. This 40 insulating covering 23 is also extended over the rigid jaw member II of the clamp exposing only the laterally projecting contact I3 on the end. For this purpose the frame is covered with a layer of rubber approximately f8 inch thick, 45 which may be applied by dipping, wrapping. Spraying and vulcanizing thereon by various processes which are ,well known. The insulating cover 23 is preferably applied over a portion of the upwardly projecting supports i9 leaving 50 the hooks 20 bare for making electrical contact.

In operation the frame is loaded with sheets of metal to be etched, or plates to be plated, 0r having electrodeposited layers to be etched, and this is conveniently accomplished by de- 55 ,pressing the outer ends o! the movablejaws Il of the clamps on the frame for inserting 'the corners of the plates between the inner ends of the jaws. `The rubber bands I1 compress the jaws together to secure the plates and to establish electrical connection between the plates and the frame. By disposing the hooks 2l over an electrical bus bar 2| the frame ls quickly and conveniently suspended in a suitable electrolytic bath to accomplish the desired process. 'After the process is completed, the frame is convenientof electrically conductive material joined to said rods in spaced, permanent, electrical conductive relation and projecting therefrom inwardly into the frame, a covering of insulating material on said frame, a corresponding number of movable jaws of non-corrodlble material journaled directly on the frame rod adjacent the stationary jaws respectively, and having Ya concave bearing depression receiving the rod, and elastic means o! non-corrodible material for holding each movable jaw and compressing it toward` the associated stationary jaw.

2. A support for 'holding articles to be electroplated or etched comprising, an electrically conductive rod, a stationary clamp jaw of electrically conductive material joined to said rod in permanent, electrically conductive relation therewith and projecting therefrom, a movable clamp jaw journaled on said frame in cooperation with said stationary jaw, and rubber'elastic means disposed around said jaws and rod for securing the movable jaw on the rod adjacent the stationary jaw and compressing the movable jaw on the stationary jaw in clamping relation.

3. A supportl for holding articles to be electroplated or etched comprising, anelectrically conductive rod, a stationary clamp jaw of electrically Y conductive material joined to said rod in permanent electrically conductive relation therewith and projecting therefrom, a movable clamp jaw of non-conductive material joumaled directly on said rod opposite said stationary jaw, and having a concave bearing depression receiving said rod, and `rubber elastic means disposed around said jaws and rod for securing the movable jaw on the rod adjacent the stationary jaw andfor compressing the movable jaw on the stationary jaw in clamping relation.

WATSON BEEBE. 

